Netflix’s Bingeworthy Spiritual Predecessor to ‘The Pitt’ Becomes a Streaming Powerhouse

19 hours ago 4

Published Feb 10, 2026, 12:59 PM EST

Denis is a news writer for Collider. He has covered television for several years, starting with writing scripts for YouTube videos before transitioning to articles. He has reviewed shows across different genres. His favorite types of articles to write are exciting news updates about shows and episodic reviews of the same. He might say he doesn't have a favorite show, but he has watched The Wire, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist more than once. Find him on X tweeting about something random that occurred to him about a TV show or the industry.

Since it debuted last year, The Pitt has been hailed as the best streaming procedural of the decade. The Noah Wyle-led smash hit balances the energy of modern streaming shows with the classic format of procedurals like Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order, or NCIS. The show has served as the blueprint for HBO Max's next slate of dramas as the streaming service looks to replicate this success and make it a winning formula. Two years before The Pitt, Netflix debuted one of its most popular shows, The Lincoln Lawyer, which does all that as well. The legal drama is a combination of serial storytelling and procedural elements, anchored by an endlessly bingeable structure and sleek visuals. The Manuel Garcia-Rulfo-led series returned for a fourth season on April 5, and it's already getting its due on streaming.

Data from FlixPatrol shows that The Lincoln Lawyer is the third most popular show on Netflix globally at the time of writing, climbing to number one in many countries, including the US, South Africa, and Australia. Past seasons have typically ranked first globally, but the show is now facing strong competition from the latest season of Bridgerton and Unfamiliar, the German spy thriller that has quietly captured attention and ranked second. The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 is the show's most ambitious yet, as it places its main character in tough situations. Mickey Haller, the defense attorney at the center of all this, finds himself on trial for murder, and he must use everything he's learned while defending his clients to free himself. However, Haller learns that when the stakes are this high, the playbook is not much help.

'The Lincoln Lawyer' Is a Winner

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 has received near-universal acclaim, being hailed as the best season ever. "Because this season feels more significant by putting everything on the line for its title character, it requires everyone to step up and give it their all, and they rise to the occasion. It's also nice to hear and see some names and faces from the past to tie the previous seasons into the larger world that's being built," wrote Collider's Christina Radish in her review of The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4. "It's too hard to name an MVP for The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 because they all get standout moments, whether standing up for a client, making their case in court, or opening up more emotionally," she added.

The Lincoln Lawyer has been renewed for Season 5, expected to premiere on Netflix in 2027. It will be adapted from Michael Connelly's The Resurrection Walk. We'll keep you updated.